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SXGodzilla — Meme: My Top 10 Godzilla Movies

Published: 2014-07-08 02:54:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 1985; Favourites: 24; Downloads: 8
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Description Decided to play around with this meme by .

Some people might find my choices odd. So hope you all enjoy.

The List: (in no real particular order of importance)
10. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1954)
The one that started it all. I've found myself enjoying both versions (US and Japanese) of this movie. In a really huge departure from what would come afterwards for a while, the US version really doesn't take out that much of the original story, theme, or tone. The character it introduces doesn't really take that much of a role in things, mostly serving as yet another witness to the carnage that unfolds. Watch the US version of Godzilla, then watch stuff like the US version of Varan, the Unbelievable, or the US version of the first Gamera movie to see what I mean. The effects still capture my imagination even today, and the tragic character of Serizawa is damned near captivating to watch.

9. Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964):
This was still when Toho had a tremendous amount of momentum, were at the top of their craft, and it REALLY shines through here. This is also where they slowly began to combine all their previous kaiju movies into one universe. Despite the seemingly oddball choice of opponent, (which really becomes apparent in the first battle) Mothra's Larvae more than make up for things once they come into the picture. 

8. Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995):
I'll go into more detail about my feelings for the Heisei (80's-90's) Era of Godzilla in later entries on this list. There was just something really poetic almost about how Toho planned to do their 'final' Godzilla movie. Godzilla's 'final foe' was spawned by the first thing to kill him back in the 50's, adding this whole new layer of 'Legacy' and 'Sins of the Forefathers' to the proceedings. And it was a nice change of pace, story and tone-wise, to the previous four 90's Goji movies. Gets a little sappy at times, but feels like a very appropriate ending to things. 

7. Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1974):
This is still one of my all-time favorite Godzilla movies of all time. It felt like Toho was pulling out all the stops for this one, especially after the cheesy (but still enjoyable) installments of 'Godzilla vs. Hedorah', 'Godzilla vs. Gigan', and 'Godzilla vs. Megalon'. Even with the (admittedly wacky) alien ape subplot this still kicks alotta ass. Just a total 180 Degrees from what had come before this at the time. And this version of MechaGodzilla is STILL, IMHO, the coolest version hands down. Just damned mean, and brutal compared to it's successors. It's practically the poster-child for the 'No Kill Like Overkill' trope. 

6. Godzilla X MechaGodzilla (2002):
I just really really dug the approach to this movie, felt like a nice change of pace from the previous movies of the 'Millenium Series'. It's an awesome example of 'World Building' and 'Backstory' for this period of Godzilla's history. This version of MechaGodzilla's design and creation/origin is one of the cooler concepts from the 'Millenium Series'. And the other fun part is... there was a direct sequel.

5. Return of Godzilla (aka: Godzilla 1985):
Another top contender for my all-time favorite Godzilla movies. The effects, the set designs, the story, the tone, it all comes together to form a really really awesome Godzilla movie. Can get a bit melodramatic at times, but it was just nice to (at the time) have a very very serious Godzilla movie. And it began a new series of Godzilla movies that started out very strong but sadly petered out with the third entry. Another reason I really dig this movie is Raymond Burr making a return appearance, even if his parts amount to nothing but hammy exposition and occasional cryptic cynicism.

4. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003):
This movie is cool because it's the only direct sequel/continuation of a movie in this series (Millenium) of films. Thus it gets to play with the concept/premise laid out in the previous movie. A shared universe concept thus gets further fleshed out, acting as sequel to both 'Godzilla X MechaGodzilla' AND the original 'Mothra' movie. To me, this is also among the best of the 'Classic Toho Style' Godzilla movies as the action and story play out pretty well. The handling of Godzilla in this is one his best appearances (for the most part) as he goes on this near unstoppable 'Warpath' through Tokyo.

3. Godzilla (2014):
If I WERE to put this all in an actual numbered/emphasized list of films, this movie would be pretty damn close to #1. It felt like a breath of fresh air to see a GOOD American Godzilla movie. Never quite cared about 'Breaking Bad', so wasn't too bummed out by the unexpected exit of Bryan Cranston like some people. Also found this incarnation of Godzilla to be really cool, somewhere between Chaotic Good and Neutral Good on the 'Alignment System'. Can only hope they keep this level of awesome up. 

2. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964):
This is just classic Ishiro Honda Sci-Fi, and the debut for quite possibly Godzilla's GREATEST nemesis, the dreaded King Ghidorah. It also set the Big G on his path to redemption/heroism. Just about every returning monster has their own moment to shine, to show how cool or integral they are to this 'trio' that stand up to the alien menace when the time calls for it.

And #1. Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989):
For some reason this movie just sticks with me. It's the movie I tend to think of when I hear the word 'Godzilla'. To me it's also the best movie of the 'Heisei' series, feeling like a natural continuation of the things that were set up in 'Godzilla 1985'. The effects work is perhaps the best Toho has ever done, be it the suitmation effects, the sets, and everything else in between. Godzilla gets a really unique opponent, the music soundtrack kicks ass, and it just all feels top-notch. If the rest of the Heisei Series that followed had kept up this level of awesome and professionalism, it would've been one awesome series of films. Sadly due to stalling amidst the intended 'Tristar Deal' that Toho was trying to make, things just began to stall out... or felt like it was just 'going through the paces'.
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Comments: 12

MysticSunrise87 [2015-03-08 22:44:44 +0000 UTC]

Just about the same as my list( change some of the posistions and through out GXM). I really love the Japanese version of The Return of Godzilla( the dumbasse's who turned it into the abomination the american version is should be waterborded,tortured repeatidly then shot by firing squad.

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ultrakoichi [2014-07-08 13:51:19 +0000 UTC]

I agree with most of them!! My all time favourite probably Ghodorah the Three Headed Monster!!

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SXGodzilla In reply to ultrakoichi [2014-07-12 17:43:40 +0000 UTC]

cool! glad you liked the list

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Letdragon [2014-07-08 05:03:51 +0000 UTC]

Excellent choices.

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SXGodzilla In reply to Letdragon [2014-07-08 17:32:35 +0000 UTC]

^^ thanks

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Letdragon In reply to SXGodzilla [2014-07-08 18:50:16 +0000 UTC]

Quite welcome.

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andrewr255 [2014-07-08 03:33:41 +0000 UTC]

What, no Roland Emmerich, hehehe...

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SXGodzilla In reply to andrewr255 [2014-07-08 17:33:23 +0000 UTC]

*snaps a rubberband against your shoulder* -V-;;

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andrewr255 In reply to SXGodzilla [2014-07-08 18:28:16 +0000 UTC]

Godzilla 2: Godzilla vs Global Warming

The day after just got personal!

In theatres soon...

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mlpGzillastarwarsfan [2014-07-08 03:22:34 +0000 UTC]

No godzilla Vs King Ghidorah 1991? TRAITOR!!!!
Just kidding. Nice list, I'd say that those movies would most likely make it on my top 15.

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SXGodzilla In reply to mlpGzillastarwarsfan [2014-07-08 17:38:21 +0000 UTC]

cool. ^^

*liked GvsKG, but felt it's story was poorly handled* Have a list somewhere in my journal that lists the Time Travel plot as one of the dumber things in Goji history. When you have to have it (the time travel hijinks and how it doesn't break continuity over it's knee) basically spelled out for you, outside of the film itself... someone in editing was seriously slacking off.

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mlpGzillastarwarsfan In reply to SXGodzilla [2014-07-09 01:23:29 +0000 UTC]

It is the only time they play the time travel card in the series, so I don't mind it that much.

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